§  54.621   Access to advanced telecommunications and information services.

   (a) Twenty-five percent of the monthly cost of eligible Internet access
   shall be eligible for universal support. Health care providers shall
   certify that the Internet access selected is the most cost-effective
   method for their health care needs as defined in §  54.615(c)(7), and
   that purchase of the Internet access is reasonably related to the
   health care needs of the rural health care provider.

   (b) Each eligible health care provider that cannot obtain toll-free
   access to an Internet service provider shall be entitled to receive the
   lesser of the toll charges incurred for 30 hours of access per month to
   an Internet service provider or $180 per month in toll charge credits
   for toll charges imposed for connecting to an Internet service
   provider.

   (c) Health care providers located in States that are entirely rural
   shall be eligible to receive universal service support equal to 50
   percent of the monthly cost of advanced telecommunications and
   information services reasonably related to the health care needs of the
   facility.

   [ 68 FR 74503 , Dec. 24, 2003, as amended at  70 FR 6373 , Feb. 7, 2005]

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